Lantana plant named ‘Baluclush’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lantana  plant named ‘Baluclush’, characterized by its pink and yellow bicolored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and minimally vigorous, compact, and mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Baluclush’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Baluclush’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during May 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Lantana cultivars with continuous flowering, dark green-colored foliage, and a well-branched, compact growth habit.

The new Lantana cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection designated BFP 191-1, not patented, characterized by its pink and yellow bicolored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection designated BFP 294-2, not patented, characterized by its white-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and compact, mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2004 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2004 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Baluclush’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

-   -   1. Pink and yellow bicolored inflorescences;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Minimally vigorous, compact, and mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in inflorescence color.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Irene’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Irene’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves, as measured         by leaf length and width, than plants of ‘Irene’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Irene’.

In addition, the new cultivar is similar in comparison to Bandana® Rose ‘Bante Rossa’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,148. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Bante Rossa’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller inflorescences, as         measured by inflorescence width, than plants of ‘Bante Rossa’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves, as measured         by length and with, than plants of ‘Bante Rossa’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are wider than plants of ‘Bante         Rossa’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Baluclush’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Baluclush’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Baluclush’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on May 9, 2007 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara cultivar ‘Baluclush’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection             designated BFP 191-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection             designated BFP 294-2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant Description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Minimally vigorous,             compact, and mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 17.6 cm. Width: Approximately 30.3 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances             branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:             Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong,             becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately 13.2 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 144A. Color of             mature stem: 199B. -   Foliage Description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.             Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 7.7 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             4.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Scabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Scabrous with a mixture of glandular pubescence             along venation. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color             of upper surface of young foliage: Closest to 137B with             venation of 143C. Color of lower surface of young foliage:             138B with venation of 138D. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: 139A with venation of 144A. Color of lower surface             of mature foliage: 137B with venation of 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous with a mixture of             glandular pubescence. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color: 144A. -   Flowering Description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Baluclush’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 10 to 12 days from first color of outer             buds to dropping of last flower. -   Inflorescence Description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Corymb. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 11. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Aspect: Facing             upward or outward. Height: Approximately 2.4 cm. Width:             Approximately 3.7 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per             inflorescence: Approximately 37.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.             Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 2.8 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and             glandular pubescent. Gland color: 144D, transparent. Color:             144A. -   Flower Description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Salverform.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in             progression from the margin to the center of the             inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per             plant: Approximately 5.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at             apex. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately             3.0 mm. Color: 27A.         -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical. Petals             are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape: Obovate.             Appearance: Dull. Aspect: Flat. Margin: Entire, ruffled.             Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper petal from throat:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of upper petal: Approximately             6.2 mm. Length of lateral petals from throat: Approximately             3.0 mm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Length of lower petal from throat: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Width of lower petal: Approximately 7.2 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Mixture of colorless and N74B. Color of             upper surface when first open: 4D with 5A at base             transitioning to 13A at throat opening. Color of lower             surface when first open: 155A with a faint overlay of N74B.             Color of upper surface when fully open: N74C fading with age             to N74D. Color of lower surface when fully open: 75D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter at tube             opening: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely             pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous at base,             gradually becoming densely pubescent at tube opening with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Pubescence is a             mixture of colorless and N74A. Color of inner surface: 155A.             Color of outer surface: 145C at base, transitioning to 145D             at tube opening.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner             surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner             and outer surfaces: 144D.         -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape:             Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Texture of lower             surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface: 143B. Color of lower surface: 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per             flower, adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Anther shape: Ovoid, bilobed. Anther length: Less             then 1 mm. Anther color: 9A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen             color: 9C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma             length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: N144D, translucent.             Style length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Style color: 145D with             an overlay of 185B. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Ovary color: N144C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Lantana has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Baluclush’, substantially as herein shown and described. 